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Don't Get Mad annexes Indiana Derby B. Wayne Hughes' DON'T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even) proved much the best Saturday night when the bay sophomore pulled away to capture the $511,300 Indiana Derby (G2) at Hoosier Park. The Ron Ellis trainee settled near the back of the pack in the early going under jockey Brice Blanc as Thor's Echo (Swiss Yodeler) led through splits of :22 3/5, :46 4/5 and 1:11 1/5. Don't Get Mad came five wide into the stretch and brushed with Purim (Dyanformer) as the field turned for home, gained the lead in midstretch after a mile in 1:36 1/5 and powered clear under steady handling en route to a three-length victory, stopping the clock in 1:42 3/5 for the 1 1/16-mile fast track event . Don't Get Mad left the gate as the 5-2 second favorite to return $7.20, $3.40 and $2.80, leading a $22.40 exacta. Scrappy T (Fit to Fight) was forced to check entering the backstretch after running into traffic and rallied to challenge in upper stretch but was no match in the end, giving $3 and $2.60 for the place as the 8-5 favorite. Thor's Echo was able to maintain third and paid $3.40 at 9-1, ending the $128 trifecta. Purim completed the 9-5-2-6 superfecta which paid $629.40. Southern Africa (Cape Town), It's Time to Smile (Ops Smile), Greater Good (Intidab), Apache Point (Royal Academy) and Earths Vain Shadow (Quiet American) rounded out the order of finish. Bred in Kentucky by Milton and Beth Hendry, Don't Get Mad is out of the multiple Grade 3-placed mare Class on Class (Jolie's Halo) and is a half-brother to an unnamed yearling colt by Dixieland Band. He was purchased for $350,000 at the Ocala Breeders' 2004 March Selected Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The victory increases Don't Get Mad's record to 11-5-1-1 with $790,400 in earnings. Other scores on his resume include the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup S. (G3) and Derby Trial S., as well as placings in the San Vicente S. (G2) and San Felipe S. (G2).
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